GILLINGHAM supporters have been absolved of blame for a firework incident early in the second half of Saturday's game at Grimsby.

A shower of fireworks were thrown from behind the goal where the Gillingham fans were grouped. They landed in the Grimsby penalty area, narrowly missing both home goalkeeper Danny Coyne and Kent Messenger Group photographer Grant Falvey.

It later emerged that they had been thrown from an alley behind the stand. Grimsby press officer Tim Harvey stressed later: "No blame is being attached to the Gillingham supporters.

"The fireworks were thrown by morons from that alley. Had Gillingham been attacking that goal I think we would have been talking about players being seriously injured.

"It was fortunate that play was in the other half of the field. Our stewards reacted as quickly as they could and went to the alley, but unfortunately the culprits had gone."